This was peak Kasie West-- cute, sweet, and a little predictable. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters, and how natural their chemistry felt.

If you're looking for a good time without wanting to think about it too much, then thi is the book for you. If you're looking for a new exboyfriend to hate, this is also your book.

In Better Than Revenge, Kasie West delivers a fun and spirited tale about ambition, betrayal, and unexpected love. Seventeen-year-old Finley has always dreamed of becoming a famous podcaster, and she's been working hard to craft the perfect pitch to secure a spot on her school's podcast team. However, her plans are thrown into disarray when her football-playing boyfriend, Jensen, decides to compete for the same position and steals her idea, leaving her feeling confused and betrayed.

Determined to get back at Jensen, Finley and her friends concoct a revenge scheme, but soon realize that outsmarting Jensen is no easy feat. In a surprising twist, Finley discovers her talent for kicking and decides to take Jensen's spot on the football team, setting the stage for an exhilarating new chapter in her life. To aid her training, she enlists the help of Theo, Jensen’s charming yet arrogant rival, which only complicates matters further.
As Finley immerses herself in the world of football, she and Theo begin to uncover a deeper connection that goes beyond the sport. However, Finley is hesitant to let herself be distracted, especially with the lingering desire for revenge still in her heart. With West’s hallmark mix of humor and romance, Better Than Revenge explores themes of self-discovery, ambition, and the notion that true love may ultimately be more satisfying than any act of retaliation. This engaging read is sure to resonate with fans of contemporary young adult fiction and sports romance

✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ He Fell First
✔️ Opposites Attract

Finley loves podcasting and wanted to be chosen as co-host of her school's podcast team. Unfortunately her boyfriend (now ex) took the spot she wanted. She wants revenge and after a few petty pranks, decides to work with his football rival, Theo, to plan the ultimate revenge - taking his football dream away. But feelings start to develop between her and Theo muahahha

My jaw dropped reading the plot - I hated her ex immediately so was on board for Team Finlay throughout the book. I enjoyed the banter with her and her friends and her and Theo. I loved the B storyline with her personal podcast too.

I was really won over by the small moments here - the faux interviews Finlay does at sporadic moments with friends and family; the silly scene with family members supporting her training; all the moments with her kooky friend group. I thought it was all charming and sucked me into the story.

Finley's (now ex) boyfriend, Jensen, tried out and stole her dream on their school podcast and Finley decides she needs some revenge. Who better to help her than Jensen’s rival, Theo.

Emotions and dramatics are so much drama in high school, so although I loved the characters from the start, I was sold on Better Than Revenge until Finley's revenge plan took form and I. WAS. HERE. FOR. IT. Theo and Finley were amazing, and I loved them together and they made me smile throughout and I truly enjoyed reading it. I also really loved the side story with her grandma and learning her story through Finley’s personal podcast and how special those memories of first can stay.

If you're looking for a sweet, YA read with some even sweeter revenge, I definitely recommend this one.

Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute!

I love a good "what, like it's hard?" Elle Woods moment for girls in books. And I love that Theo was down to help with little to no convincing. Their friendship felt so natural and I loved getting lost in this.

Thank you to Net Gallley for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for reading and reviewing.

I honestly loved this. I always enjoy Kasie West's characters, and this world that she created is such a relatable world with real-life problems. I love the grandmother, who shows her struggles with alzheimer's disease in a very real way. I love that the main character has to navigate her feelings and struggles with her grandmother's disease while also navigating a social life at school. We meet the "bad guy" immediately, and it's such a relatable feeling of frustration and a need for revenge that the entire book kept me wanting more. I read this in about 48 hours and it was worth every minute!

*I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced release copy of this book. This book was not my favorite read of the year.

This book was so incredibly fun and adorable. I felt like Finley’s anger and rage were portrayed perfectly. She’s a junior in high school who felt like everything she had been working towards was being ripped away from her, and dealing with a particularly public break up. I laughed so hard watching Theo be incredibly obvious in his flirting, but her constantly going “he doesn’t mean that…” I especially loved her podcast and her grandmothers story that is woven throughout the book. I almost wish I could read that story now as well.

This had all the best giddy moments

I've loved everything I've read written by Kasie West, and I'm proud to say this book was no exception. It was so much fun! The characters and all of their drama were entertaining and engaging. In all, great rom com vibes, no notes. I gave it four stars instead of five because it didn't really keep me on the edge of my seat reading, but it was such a delightful and sunny diversion that it more than makes up for it.

I seriously had the BEST time with this book. Finley is a whole mood—she’s got that drive to make it as a famous podcaster but gets completely betrayed by her football-obsessed ex, Jensen, who literally steals her idea for his podcast tryout. Cue the revenge plot, and let me tell you, I was HERE for it.
What I loved most was how Finley grew throughout the book. She starts off all fiery and determined to get her revenge, but it’s clear she’s learning about herself and becoming stronger along the way. Also, watching her stand up to Jensen? Pure satisfaction. Like, get him, girl!
And Theo—swoon! That boy is EVERYTHING. He’s cocky but also charming and sweet. Finley and Theo's chemistry was off the charts, and their banter had me giggling nonstop. Seriously, they are the perfect duo. Their romance was sooo cute, and the whole football twist was a great touch. Plus, the Taylor Swift references? Chef’s kiss.
The grandma storyline was also super adorable and added so much heart to the book. Honestly, this was such a fun, swoony read!
If you're into YA romance with a lot of laughs and a whole lot of heart, this is definitely your next read!

This book was beyond adorable. Literally chuckled throughout this entire book.

I loved it! The beginning was jaw drop after jaw drop with "No, he didn't" "He did not" "The audacity!" replaying throughout my head. Jensen is the worst.

Finley, Finley. I was so upset with her for a minute. I mean a lot did happen to her, I get that, but I needed her to actually SEE Theo. Not just base everything off of what Jensen said.

THEO. Sweet Theo. Oh my goodness the love I have for him. He could not be more obvious about his feelings for Finley. And his story ahhh I just love him.

Deja, Lee and Maxwell. The comedic relief! They are hilarious and honestly the best friend group. I don't know if Finley would have been tolerable without them. Finley is great but without them bringing her to life I fear she would have toppled over the edge.

Anyway if you are looking for a funny, sweet YA romance this is it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This was a cute, YA read but I didn’t really connect to the characters. The main characters came across more self-centered than anything, which made it a challenge. However, I loved the Grandma and thought she added some needed interest to the story.

I’m sure this book will resonate with some who read and enjoy but it won’t be one I recommend.

Kasie West has an amazing novel on her hands. This was a fun and cute story about exacting revenge and finding unexpected commonalities along the way. Finley and Theo had great banter and made the podcast something I would listen to! Easy read with some heartfelt moments to give you a little sparkle in the eye.

I feel like any book that I read in one setting deserves a 5 star review. It might not be perfect, but I was so drawn into this story. I was supposed to read a chapter, then move on to the next one in my rotation, but before I knew it I was at chapter 13, and then only breaks I would make was to share quotes with friends so they could laugh with me.

Finley is finally getting a chance to interview for the high school podcast team. She's been dreaming and working toward this since seventh grade, and now it's really here. When Jensen shows up in the line, Finley thinks her boyfriend is there to support her. She's shocked when he decides to try out of the podcast team as well.

Finley's hurt, expecting an apology. When the team is announced, Jensen gets the host spot, and Finley is named as one of the researchers. Finley leaves the meeting in a daze, not realizing that the new team is supposed to introduce themselves at the end-of-school announcement. Not that Jensen bothers to text and tell her. When the mics don't shut off after the announcement, Finley learns that Jensen gained his host spot using one of her ideas. If that weren't bad enough, Jensen goes on to detail all the ways Finley wasn't cut out for the host spot. To the entire school.

Finley and her friends meet, and they decide the best route going forward - revenge. First, she breaks up with Jensen over text, deciding he doesn't deserve a face to face conversation after what he's done. His bland response of "I figured" only fuels Finley's rage even more. She needs to find something to hurt him. Not only has the podcast team been her dream, but the host positions are direct lines to a scholarship at Finley's school of choice. She's planned her whole future on getting this. It's not enough to hurt him, she needs to take something away from him the same way he has to her.

Later she's caught writing Jensen's number on the bathroom stall in the men's room at her best friend's family restaurant by none other than Theo, the person Jensen hates most.During their year together, Jensen has complained almost daily about Theo, and what better way to get under his skin than to team up with his nemesis?

To her surprise, Theo actually talks to her. When he's hanging out with friends, he's always standing to the side with earbuds in. She's heard that he's arrogant and stand offish, and can't be bothered to help anyone. When a miskicked football goes awry, and Theo compliments her for it, she has the perfect plan. If she can practice and get good enough, would she have a chance at taking football away from Jensen? Theo has been the starting kicker for years, now that he's graduating Jensen will finally get the spot and the chance he's been waiting for. Unless she can steal it from him.

Along the way, Finley has her own personal podcast. Nobody listens to it but her family, but she's been interviewing her grandma, who has Alzhiemer's, in short segments. A way to preserve her grandma's failing memory, as well as learn more about her growing up. Things revealed in the podcast lead to a search for a missing surfboard, and a sudden surge in listeners.

Finley hasn't been able to talk to her family about her break-up. She knows how her mom feels about revenge, and no way is Finley going to have her support. It hurts every time her grandma asks her about Jensen, and she has to remind her that they've broken up. Finley even has to dogde the question about why she's been training so hard, and what she's up to on her days off.

This book had all the things. A plot that lured you in, a break-up that got you angry, the perfect villain-turned-ally, supportive (and at times not so supportive when you're making questionable choices) friends, laughs and all the feels. As I was reading, I wished I had people around me that were reading too, because I wanted to share all the moments that made me gasp, or laugh, or groan in apprehension. I'll definitely be reading more books by Kasie West, and good thing there are quite a lot of them!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. The book is already out now, and I can't wait to read more reviews and connect with readers about it! All opinions are my own.

Such a cute YA read!

You get the revenge aspect, enemies to lovers, past and present love stories. It’s a lighthearted quick read and the main characters are very likable! Not to mention I love her grandma and getting a glimpse into her love life was my favorite part of the book.

kasie west romances always hit. from p.s i like you to better than revenge, i always get that same warm feeling everytime i read the banter between the two characters. it's beautiful as always

the characters were so loveable and the romcom plot was so funny

Book Review: A Captivating New Romance from the Author of Sunkissed!
"A swoony new romance" perfectly captures the essence of this delightful read! The story follows seventeen-year-old Finley, a determined aspiring podcaster whose dreams are put to the test when her football-player boyfriend, Jensen, unexpectedly lands the podcast job she's always wanted. Feeling betrayed after Jensen uses her pitch for his own tryout, Finley takes matters into her own hands with the help of his nemesis.
What unfolds is a tale of resilience and empowerment as Finley hatches a revenge plan that leads her to discover unexpected talents, including a knack for kicking! By taking Jensen's spot on the football team and enlisting the help of the charming yet conceited Theo, Finley embarks on a journey that intertwines friendship, rivalry, and budding romance.
The chemistry between Finley and Theo is electric, adding depth to the story as they both navigate their own challenges and secrets. What starts as revenge quickly evolves into something much more meaningful. The question remains: can Finley balance her aspirations with her feelings for Theo, or will the quest for revenge distract her from true love?
This book beautifully explores themes of ambition, friendship, and the complexities of young love, making it a must-read for any fan of romantic comedies. With relatable characters and engaging plot twists, readers are sure to be captivated from start to finish. It's a heartwarming reminder that sometimes, the journey to finding oneself can lead to the most unexpected and rewarding connections. Highly recommended!

Better Than Revenge by Kasie West is a fun story about a girl named Finley who has a dream of being a podcaster. However, when her boyfriend Jensen steals her point as a podcast host at their high school by stealing her ideas, she breaks up with him and wants revenge. Nothing is successful until she discovers she is good at punting and plans to try to take his spot on the football team with the help of Theo, Jensen’s rival on the team. As she starts falling for Theo, they must decide what’s more important - revenge or love?

This was a cute story and a fun, fast read. At times, I felt the schemes were a bit outlandish but still enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to those around high school age.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved reading Better than Revenge by Kasie West. I loved the plot, and the friendship circle Finley has and the plot to try to join the football team was unique.

I really loved the dynamics between her and Theo and I loved the fact that she shared her grandma’s story and others loved it as well. This was a cute, sweet read with some revenge thrown in to her ex as the title states.

I would recommend this book for anybody who loves Kasie West or young adult books in general. This was a five star rating. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing the chance to read and review this.

This was a super cute sports rom-com! I adored Finley, her grandmother, Theo, Deja, Max, and Luke! I did not like Jensen. 😒 I could not imagine what it would be like for someone you love to take something from you that they know means so much to you. So, of course, I LOVED the revenge plan! There were several moments that made me cry, especially the parts with Finley and her grandmother. I will definitely be checking out more of Kasie West’s work!